Transfer speculation is dominating the football agenda every day this summer with rumours aplenty about players from throughout Europe’s big leagues.
Will any of the following deals happen?
Arsenal are said to be preparing a bid for Kylian Mbappe that would smash the world record transfer fee, according to The Telegraph.
PSG are also in the hunt and have reportedly made an offer of €130 million to Monaco with Real Madrid and other top European clubs monitoring his situation.
However Arsenal are allegedly willing to match PSG’s bid and will offload players in order to fund the move.
The Mbappe-to-Arsenal rumour has gotten louder over the last few weeks, so at the very least it seems as if the one obstacle that usually stands in the Gunners’ way – astronomical transfer fees – may not be as big of an issue this time, although the numbers mentioned would blow the club’s record transfer fee of £42.5 million for Mesut Ozil in 2013 out of the water.
However, Mbappe’s other suitors can all offer Champions League football and a more realistic shot at challenging for league titles, and he’s likely to get higher wage packets from other clubs, as well.
This transfer still seems unlikely to happen, and Real Madrid still look like the most likely destination for the young French star.
Kylian Mbappe across all competitions for Monaco this season:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 23, 2017
28 starts
26 goals
11 assists
Involved in a goal once every 68.8 minutes. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8sUdHr9f6d
Cristiano Ronaldo’s U-turn on leaving Madrid has allowed Manchester United to refocus their attentions on completing the transfer of Ronaldo’s club teammate Alvaro Morata.
United were touted as the likeliest destination were Ronaldo to indeed leave, but now that the Portugal star has seemingly changed his mind, Morata has again become the top priority at Old Trafford.
A £60million offer is supposedly being readied, and United are hopeful of completing a deal before they leave for their pre-season tour in July, claims The Sun.
At this point, the biggest surprise is that this transfer hasn’t been finalised yet.
Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford has always been a dream scenario, and it’s not unsurprising that the club decided to wait and see if there was a genuine chance of that happening.
Now that that’s out of the way, Morata should be a Manchester United player sooner rather than later.
Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo
According to Ok Diario, both Manchester United and Chelsea have made offers for the wantaway Real Madrid midfielder.
James is said to prefer United, and indeed rumours earlier in the summer had suggested that a move to Old Trafford was almost a done deal, although that story has since cooled.
Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that James is on his way out of the Santiago Bernabeu, after struggling for playing time with the Spanish and European champions.
Where he ends up is still anybody’s guess, with both Milan clubs and Juventus having also been linked with the Colombian.
While no doubt a player of extraordinary talent, James doesn’t seem to fit the mould of the sort of attacking player that both Jose Mourinho and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte prefer.
Given the way Cesc Fabregas has struggled to get a regular starting berth at Chelsea, it would be surprising to see the Blues splash the cash on James.
The Colombian’s preferred destination of Old Trafford also seems unlikely to happen, as an attacker with the defensive work rate of Ivan Perisic would be a more realistic Mourinho signing.
James Rodriguez
The goalkeeper has emerged as one of Real Madrid’s top targets for this summer, although the club may still prefer making a bid for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Donnarumma will be easier to get, though, as he has already signalled his intention to not sign a new contract with AC Milan.
A €30 million bid is reportedly in the offing, although Milan would likely hold out for more. Madrid are also prepared to wait until next summer, when the Italian will be available for free.
Barring a dramatic U-turn, Donnarumma will leave Milan within the coming months, as the Italian club cannot take the risk of losing him for nothing next summer.
Madrid have always looked like the likeliest destination, even as Keylor Navas continues to prove himself as a perfectly good keeper for Los Blancos, albeit one prone to some high-profile gaffes.
Whether purchasing Donnarumma, who could theoretically be a Madrid player for the next 15-20 years given he’s only 18, means the end of Madrid’s pursuit of De Gea is yet to be seen.
If Donnarumma goes to Real Madrid, he's probably about as stupid as Martin Ødegaard. If you're wondering who Ødegaard is, it proves my point
— Clark Whitney (@Mr_Bundesliga) June 20, 2017
